Andrews: What the Bipartisan Fiscal Cliff Deal Means for this Area

On New Year’s Day, I joined 256 members of Congress – both Democrats and Republicans – to approve a compromise agreement that avoided a major tax increase on most Americans. The bill is not perfect – compromises never are. But, after reading the 157-page bill and considering its effects on our community and nation, it was clear that this compromise was the most viable approach to keep income taxes low for the middle class and produce the jobs our country badly needs.

Here is what the agreement, the Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, means to our community and our nation: